I went to the circus!

I had three events with the Afghanistan women this past week. Monday, we all went to Grant's Farm. This is a huge preserve in the south part of St. Louis that was owned by Ulysses S. Grant and eventually became part of the Anheuser Busch family holdings. It starts with a tram ride around the property to view all the wild life and it ends at a small animal park where kids can feed baby goats, parakeets, ride a camel (all for a price, of course) and the adults can get a free Busch beer. 

Thursday evening was English class. I typically drive the Katab family to and from and, this particular night, the baby, who is probably fifteen months old, was NOT happy riding home in her car seat so she screamed (the intense, guttural kind) the entire fifteen minute drive home. 

Friday noon, a group of Afghanistan mothers and children got to attend the Circus Flora (Google it) in downtown St. Louis. I had never heard of it but, apparently, it is fairly well known and it draws some big-name acts. Namely, the Flying Wallendas! (I have heard of them). I know sometime in the eighties, we took the kids to a small-time circus that traveled through Columbia but, aside from that, I had not been since I was a little girl. And, I think I only went once back then. 

Here are some photos:

  

Check out the guy with the pole on his head! I had a head and neck ached just watching him. And the last photo was of the Flying Wallendas. It was SO nerve wracking to see the patriarch of the family, who is in his 70's at least, do his bicycle on the highwire WITHOUT A NET! They also had a trampoline act that I neglected to photograph. Plus, there was a small live orchestra. 

As for the rest of my time, it was spent catching up from being gone for a week. I even cancelled all my music lessons for the week. Lots of yard work, of course. 

Check out the two lovely murals that have been painted around our neighborhood. When I was serving on the Holly Hills beautification committee, they were being discussed. It is so nice to see that they happened.